How Do Servers Protect You?

We all use technology in our everyday life. From the most mundane of things such as getting in touch with family and friends, checking out the latest and trending topics on the web and online shopping to the most sensitive of tasks like online banking, we all rely on our flashy and techy gadgets to do the job for us. And while there are a few frustrating moments, these devices mostly do the job 90% of the time.

However, considering the massive amount of sensitive data you deal with every day (and your PC), how sure are you that these data are protected once they get to the web? There are definitely some mechanical issues with storage devices that must be watched for (see here: http://www.harddriverecovery.org/data-recovery-services.html). Also, we can’t ignore the fact that many hackers out there are just waiting for their moment to strike to steal your data for a profit.

Fast forward to 2016, when a Malware installed on the Bangladesh’s central bank computer systems led to the theft of over $80 million. In simple words, ‘cybersecurity’ in movies or in real-life has always been a critical aspect that has the tendency to impact the business negatively which in turn can ruin it.

As technology becomes an integral part of our lives and interconnected devices become a reality of our times, we are entering a new phase of ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT) era. Technology is revolutionizing how products connect and communicate with each other and with humans. The ability to connect, communicate, and remotely manage multiple number of networked, smart devices via the internet is becoming pervasive.

With device proliferation and a hyper connected ecosystem, data deluge is a given. Therefore, with this huge opportunity, there arises an added risk of data theft, leakage, malware and much more. Every connected device is a potential entry point for malware or virus and could be alarmingly vulnerable to hackers, thereby triggering major security risks.Threats to information security, in particular, are appearing more frequently and are of greater magnitude than ever before. According to EY’s 19th Global Information Security Survey 2016-17, despite the increased investments, 75 per cent of the Indian respondents say that their cybersecurity function does not fully meet the organization’s needs.

These threats are real. And we have seen time and again how others took advantage of system vulnerabilities and human error to make a big amount of money. As an individual, you have your personal responsibilities you have to take accountability for. But what if the incident happened outside of your scope and within the many pathways of the web? Can you vouch for the security of your data all the time?

In today’s connected ecosystem, data is a highly valuable commodity, and for companies dealing with confidential data and client information, even a minor infringement in security can cause irreparable damage to the organization in terms of wealth, privacy and reputation. A small breach in an unsecure connected printing device can lead to the breakdown of an entire system. Hence, it becomes extremely critical to maintain proper document management infrastructure to ensure data privacy and security.

While we may not always fathom what happens on the web, it does not mean that we should just sit still and wait for something to happen. As a responsible citizen, you have a right to demand your safety and protection while using the web and our elected leaders have a responsibility to take measures to do that for us.

The regulations, if they had gone into effect, would have prohibited internet service providers from selling information about your online activities to advertisers. But yesterday the House of Representatives blocked the move. Companion legislation has already passed the Senate, and President Donald Trump is expected to sign the bill.

That has sparked a backlash from Democrats and many privacy advocates. Michael Copps, a former member of the Federal Communications Commission, called the bill a “perversion of what the internet was supposed to be.” And many ordinary internet users wondered what they should do to protect their online privacy.

The good news is that nothing is going to change right away. The Obama regulations weren’t scheduled to take effect until later this year, so the Republican bill simply preserves the status quo, which allows ISPs to sell customer data to advertisers. And while the law currently allows ISPs to do this, most aren’t currently doing it.

So this is what happens when you have too much technology in your life. You don’t realize a lot is on the line because you think the sites you visit are innocent platforms for your entertainment. The truth is, they are there to make money. Facebook is a good example. You sign up and don’t have anything to pay for it but you end up sharing all your personal details with photos and videos to boot. And that’s where real business takes place.

If you see ads popping on your monitor, that’s Facebook retargeting at work. Without your knowledge, the company sells your data to advertisers and they do it in the most clever and efficient way – even getting you to the right demographic. Now, if something happens to this site’s server, perhaps, what will happen to the data of billions of its users who will be compromised if you can’t always rely on servers to protect you all the time? That is a reality we have to live with every day.